Mel Gibson Breaks His Silence Over Leaked Rants, Denies Bigotry

Mel Gibson has finally opened up about the explosive audio recordings between himself and ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva that leaked onto the Internet last summer, inspiring a backlash many believe has killed the Oscar winner's career.

"I've never treated anyone badly or in a discriminatory way based on their gender, race, religion or sexuality -- period. I don't blame some people for thinking that though, from the garbage they heard on those leaked tapes, which have been edited," Gibson tells Deadline. "You have to put it all in the proper context of being in an irrationally, heated discussion at the height of a breakdown, trying to get out of a really unhealthy relationship. It's one terribly, awful moment in time, said to one person, in the span of one day and doesn't represent what I truly believe or how I've treated people my entire life."

According to interviewer Allison Hope Weiner "there were no pre-set conditions, no topic off limits and no ground rules" for the sit-down, though Gibson was legally prohibited from discussing certain topics due to ongoing litigation. Gibson openly discussed the tapes, being dropped from 'The Hangover 2' because the cast didn't want to work with him, the support he received from Whoopi Goldberg and Jodie Foster and the prospect of never acting again.

Asked if he ever thought the hate-filled conversations would end up on the Internet, Gibson sighed and shook his head, saying, "Who anticipates being recorded? Who anticipates that? Who could anticipate such a personal betrayal?"

Though the actor was unable to discuss the terms of the various agreements he's reached with Grigorieva, he did comment on the no contest plea to charges of misdemeanor battery that resulted in him receiving three years probation and one year of domestic violence counseling.

"I was allowed to end the case and still maintain my innocence. It's called a West plea and it's not something that prosecutors normally allow. But in my case, the prosecutors and the judge agreed that it was the right thing to do," the actor says. "I could have continued to fight this for years and it probably would have come out fine. But I ended it for my children and my family. This was going to be such a circus. You don't drag other people in your life through this sewer needlessly, so I'll take the hit and move on."

Gibson insists repeatedly that his is not a violent, racist, sexist or homophobic person, but rather the tapes were recorded at a particularly tumultuous time in his life -- "at the height of a breakdown," he says. Interestingly, a corresponding take on the actor was presented in a lengthy Vanity Fair profile late last year. Peter Biskind, the article's author, indicated that "none of the colleagues and associates I spoke to [for the Vanity Fair piece] noticed any indications of anti-Semitism, racism, gay-bashing, or spousal abuse."

"If ['Lethal Weapon' director Richard] Donner thought he was working with a real anti-Semite, he never would have had anything to do with Gibson. That's serious stuff with him," production designer Paul Sylbert, who worked with Gibson on Donner's 'Conspiracy Theory,' told Biskind. Added 'The Patriot' producer Peter Winther, "[Producer] Dean Devlin is a Filipino Jew from the Bronx, a total mutt. He and Mel became fast friends."

Gibson's issues seem rooted in a drinking problem that has periodically plagued the actor for the entirety of his career. "He told me that when he drank this whole other character came out, and it was very self-destructive," Dean Devlin told Vanity Fair. The magazine presented a portrait of a loose-cannon with a troubled private life, problems with substance abuse and complex relationship with his father.

The actor also addressed his 2006 DUI arrest, during which Gibson made numerous anti-Semitic comments to police officers, with Deadline. Hope Weiner asked Gibson, "When you were pulled over for the DUI in Malibu, weren't you separated from your wife?"

Gibson responded simply: "The next day."

Following the leak of his rants against Grigorieva, few spoke out in the actor's defense. His 'Maverick' co-star and director of his latest film 'The Beaver,' Jodie Foster, as well as Whoopi Goldberg, were among those who publicly supported the actor.

Of Foster, Gibson says, "We became fast friends and we maintained that over the years. We've both had our different little journeys. It's untraditional. But there are a lot of things we have in common. ... You couldn't get two people who are more diametrically opposed on everything that they think about religion and politics than what we do. But there is a core of goodness there that's undeniable and I just love her."

He has similar words of praise for Goldberg: "I knew Whoopi before she was Whoopi. And, as she's great and I always liked her and loved her. I like her even more now because she got it."

Gibson does, however, understand why so few came forward with words of encouragement. "That doesn't bother me. Why would anyone want to speak publicly and drag themselves through this crap? It seems to add fuel to the fire," he tells Hope Weiner. "Very many people are supportive, of course, but you find out who your friends are. I have many friends and they've been great."

He also seems at peace with the controversy that erupted when castmembers from 'The Hangover 2' refused to work with him, leading director Todd Phillips to drop Gibson from the film and cast Liam Neeson in a cameo role that has since, due to Neeson's inability to make it to reshoots, been recast to feature director-actor Nick Cassavetes ('The Notebook'). He ever sang the director's praises.

"You have to let that go. I sat here and talked to [director] Todd [Phillips] about it. I like Todd. How could you not like Todd? He's smart and he's gifted and so are the other people in the film. It's okay. You just have to let that go," Gibson says. "You just move on and go okay. I'm not greatly offended by it. It seemed like a good idea at the time and it went south."

Gibson filmed his latest movie, 'The Beaver,' before the tapes were leaked, and as the well-received film's release date nears, the question of whether it will save his career seems to matter to everyone in Hollywood except the actor himself. "I don't care if I don't act anymore," he told Hope Weiner.

Oh, Mh Goodness if we were all persecuted for the things we say in the heat of the moment, or when we are drunk. Mel Gibson has a drinking problem, and Alcohol changes some people into something they are not, and he is also an actor who has probably got everything he has wanted for years, then you have a woman who obviously was looking for paydays in her relationships by having children with famous men, I just wonder what famous man would want her now. she is an extorts money for a living. TRAMP

Life is about forgiveness. We all make mistakes and are taken out of context by someone sometime. Mr. Gibson is a very gifted actor and should not, in my humble opinion, give up this God given talent. Unfortunately when we chose the wrong people to hang with, we are all too often judged by others as being the same. He has taken the high road and I admire him all the more for it.

I've said from the beginning that Mel Gibson just made the same mistake that alot of rich men make which is, he got suckered in by a manipulative woman who just wanted a guarantee that she could have a rich and famous lifestyle. Just the fact that she taped him tells me everything I need to know. HOWEVER, it doesn't take much to get an angry mob started. As we've seen in Mel's situation, all Oksana had to do is go public with ONE taped phone call. I call her an extortionist; plain and simple.

Have you ever been there to actually make these statements? LOL!!! All the women get scarred of crazy, and drunk men. Let alone very rich and powerful… All women get scarred of men. And, many women suffer abuse at the hands of the very man they sleep with, have children with, feed, etc. Yeah, I know, this one women, just 'cause she has some body enhancing implants, and is Russian, can't get scarred. I wonder if Gibson's wife split from him because he was such a "NICE" man with her? I bet she was such a masochist by divorcing him, because she lost this jewel of a man!!! Oh, LOL!!!!But, I love ART, and I am not GOD!

Mel Gibson can apologize from now until doomsday, and may be a great actor, but I still do not believe him when he says he is not an anti semitic man, he cheated on his wife and Oksana may be the biggest tramp in the world, but she did not force him into an affair, he has been fooling around for years with a lot of women. His alcoholism is rampant and drunks usually say their true thoughts when drunk and he has slapped his Catholic religion in the face with his antics. His career is floundering and now he is apologizing probably to get people back in the movie houses to pay to see him....not me.

no one on this page is any better or any worse than the worst person who ever lived.shut your faces.this includes me .put this sight and all like it out of b. i dont wont to look down on anyone unless to help them get up.i just tried to help all the bad mouthers in someone else's problems to get up.that will help anyone if we just stop talking about each other,an talk to each other as we get the chance to.move on friends.

This interview makes him sound reasonable but I'm still somewhat skeptical because there is a well known axiom where the South's prejudice is best described as "hate the race but love the individual" and the North's as "love the race and hate the individual." He falls into the "south's" definintion. To go into such rants of hatred says there is an underlying prejudice that is released when in the state of rage. I am always hopeful for people to grow and I hope these experiences help him deal with these demons. I wish him well.

If he did what he did, oh well. It's not excusing him for being an alcoholic or a drug addict. Hollywood is already fake so why expect someone to support you? He's a great actor, he slipped we're all human, but he's ex is definitely after the money and publicity. Read the articles on her it's all obvious.

Well Mel is a great talent and that girl friend wanted to get on the band wagon , to bad Mel didn't use birth control , can you imagine what stories she will tell that child.Also lets get of the old song and dance about Obama, he is a born U.S.A CITIZEN and always will be!

All I can say is good luck Mel. Perhaps this experience has made a better man of him. We all go through periods in our lives where life's trials take us to the outer edge. Hope fully we learn from these mistakes. I worked with Mel on "Edge of Darkness" and although I didn't meet him personally, from a distance, he seemed like a decent person. Once again, good luck with your new life.